Newdorf Legal

Senate Bill 93 would have allowed accident victims insured by Medi-Cal (and their lawyers) to recover higher settlements and judgments.  But the rhetoric of both sides fails to explain why the resulting medical damages would have been fair — or too high, depending on one’s point of view.  Although the governor vetoed the bill (again), […]

Answers to the “Around the Courthouse” Jurisprudence Luncheon Quiz. (Find the Quiz by clicking on the “Around the Courthouse” Category on the right sidebar.)
At the Bar Association of San Francisco’s First Annual Jurisprudence Luncheon, the all-star panelists identified their favorite legal thinkers as follows:

Hon. Joseph Grodin - Cardozo.
Hon. Stephen Reinhardt - Dworkin.
Hon. Alex Kozinksi […]

Judge Alex Kozinski reprised his role as Oscar Madison opposite Judge Stephen Reinhardt (as Felix Unger) in “The Judicial Odd Couple,” an entertaining lunch-time performance at the Bar Association of San Francisco. Okay, that’s not entirely true. The two Ninth Circuit jurists did engage in a lively discussion, but the actual title of the event […]

At the First Annual Jurisprudence Luncheon (Oct. 27, 2007 at the Bar Association of San Francisco), the all-star panelists revealed their favorite legal philosophers.  Can you match the jurist to his fave legal thinker?  Find the answers below at Quiz Answers. 
The panelists were (a) Former California Supreme Court Associate Justice Joseph R. Grodin; (b) Judge […]

Clients rely on their lawyers for many things beyond traditional legal advice and representation.  On top of the skills needed to engage the court and opposing counsel, lawyers must understand — and more importantly, prepare their clients for — the emotional side of litigation.  This part of the job is rarely covered in trial advocacy training, […]

Where does one start when preparing for trial?  The best advice I ever received on this point came from Judge Charles A. Legge, for whom I was a law clerk in the federal courthouse in San Francisco.  He suggested beginning at the end, that is, the closing argument.
The reason for this is compelling.  In order […]

The plaintiffs’ bar is nothing if not relentless in pursuit of its agenda — mostly higher fees. After striking out in court decisions for the past few years, the plaintiffs’ bar has shifted its efforts to the political arena. Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed one of the plaintiffs’ key measures — S.B. 93 — last Friday (10/5/2007).
The […]